Jeremiah 38:19

KJV

And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Zedekiah {H6667} the king {H4428} said {H559} unto Jeremiah {H3414}, I am afraid {H1672} of the Jews {H3064} that are fallen {H5307} to the Chaldeans {H3778}, lest they deliver {H5414} me into their hand {H3027}, and they mock {H5953} me.

Complete Jewish Bible

Tzidkiyahu the king said to Yirmeyahu, "I am afraid of the Judeans who deserted to the Kasdim. The Kasdim might hand me over to them, and they would mistreat me."

Berean Standard Bible

But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have deserted to the Chaldeans, for the Chaldeans may deliver me into their hands to abuse me.”

American Standard Version

And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen away to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 38:19 captures King Zedekiah's profound fear during the final siege of Jerusalem, revealing the true obstacle to his obedience to God's prophet, Jeremiah. Despite Jeremiah's consistent counsel to surrender to the Babylonians for the preservation of his life and the city, Zedekiah expresses a paralyzing dread not of the foreign invaders, but of his own countrymen—the Jewish defectors who had already surrendered. His deepest concern is that these defectors would hand him over to the Chaldeans and publicly mock him, a profound dishonor in the ancient Near Eastern context that ultimately overshadowed his concern for God's will or the fate of his kingdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 38:19 is situated within the climactic and tragic final chapters of the book of Jeremiah, specifically during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (588-586 BC). This verse immediately follows a secret, desperate consultation between King Zedekiah and the prophet Jeremiah, whom the king had previously imprisoned. In [Jeremiah 38:17-18](/jeremiah/38-17 "Jeremiah 38:17-18 - Jeremiah's Counsel to Zedekiah"), Jeremiah had once again delivered God's clear and consistent message: surrender to the Babylonians, and both the king's life and the city would be spared. Zedekiah's response in this verse reveals his primary impediment to obeying this divine command—a deep-seated fear of public humiliation at the hands of his own people. This dialogue sets the stage for Zedekiah's ultimate failure to act on God's word, leading directly to the city's destruction and his personal demise, as detailed in [Jeremiah 39](/jeremiah/39 "Jeremiah 39 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's Capture").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The verse is set against the backdrop of the protracted and brutal siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian (Chaldean) army. King Zedekiah was a weak and indecisive ruler, installed as a puppet king by Babylon after the first deportation of Jehoiachin. His reign was characterized by vacillation between pro-Egyptian and pro-Babylonian factions, and a consistent failure to heed Jeremiah's prophetic warnings. The "Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans" refers to those Judeans who had already surrendered to the Babylonian forces, either out of despair or in obedience to Jeremiah's earlier prophecies, and were likely viewed as traitors by the remaining loyalists within Jerusalem. In the honor-shame culture of the ancient Near East, public mockery and humiliation were considered profound disgraces, often worse than physical harm or even death for a king whose authority and legitimacy were tied to his honor. Zedekiah's fear of being "mocked" speaks to this deep cultural value, where loss of face could be perceived as the ultimate personal and political catastrophe.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully highlights several core themes woven throughout Jeremiah and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the pervasive theme of **Fear of Man vs. Fear of God**. Zedekiah's paralyzing fear of ridicule from his own countrymen ([Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Snare of Fearing Man")) tragically outweighs his fear of God's judgment or his willingness to obey God's explicit command delivered through Jeremiah. This fear becomes a snare, preventing him from choosing the path of life. Secondly, the verse illustrates the dire **Consequences of Indecision and Disobedience**. Zedekiah's repeated vacillation and ultimate refusal to act on God's clear counsel, driven by his personal fears, directly leads to the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem and his own brutal fate, fulfilling the very humiliation he sought to avoid ([Jeremiah 39:4-7](/jeremiah/39-4 "Jeremiah 39:4-7 - Zedekiah's Capture and Fate")). Finally, it speaks to the **Rejection of Prophetic Authority**, as Jeremiah's unpopular but divinely inspired message is consistently dismissed or ignored by the king and his officials, demonstrating the tragic human tendency to prioritize personal comfort and political expediency over divine truth.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **afraid (Hebrew, _dâʼag'_):** H1672 - This word signifies a deep-seated anxiety or worry, extending beyond a momentary fright to a state of being "careful" or "sorrowful" due to apprehension. Zedekiah's fear is not a fleeting emotion but a pervasive dread that paralyzes his will and prevents him from acting on divine counsel. It speaks to a profound internal struggle and a mind consumed by worry over potential outcomes.
* **hand (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** H3027 - In the phrase "into their hand," _yâd_ refers to power, control, or authority. It implies being delivered, not just physically, but into the complete dominion of another. Zedekiah fears being rendered utterly helpless and vulnerable to the will and actions of the Jewish defectors and, by extension, the Chaldeans, signifying a complete loss of his royal authority and personal agency.
* **mock (Hebrew, _ʻâlal'_):** H5953 - This term conveys a strong sense of malicious, thorough mistreatment and ridicule. It is more severe than simple taunting; it implies being made an object of scorn, abuse, and profound contempt. For a king, being "mocked" publicly by his own people would be the ultimate stripping away of dignity, honor, and legitimacy, a fate Zedekiah feared above all else.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah":** This opening establishes the direct, confidential nature of the conversation between the highest authority in the land and the imprisoned prophet. It highlights Zedekiah's continued, albeit inconsistent, reliance on Jeremiah for guidance, even as he struggles with the implications of that guidance.
* **"I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans":** Here, Zedekiah explicitly names the source of his profound fear. It is not the formidable Babylonian army itself, but his own countrymen who had already surrendered. This reveals a deep concern for internal political dynamics and the perception of his own people, rather than solely the external military threat.
* **"lest they deliver me into their hand":** This clause expresses Zedekiah's apprehension of betrayal. He fears that these defectors, having already gone over to the enemy, would actively participate in his capture, handing him over to the Chaldeans. This act would signify a complete loss of control and a humiliating surrender of his person.
* **"and they mock me":** This final phrase encapsulates Zedekiah's ultimate dread. Beyond being captured, his greatest fear is public humiliation and ridicule. For a king, such mockery would be a profound disgrace, stripping him of his honor, dignity, and perceived strength, a fate he found more terrifying than the alternative of obedience.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich with **Irony**, as Zedekiah's fear of being mocked by the very people who had chosen the path Jeremiah advocated (surrender) ultimately leads him to a far more severe and public humiliation. His refusal to embrace a difficult but divinely ordained path out of fear of shame results in a greater, inescapable shame. This serves as powerful **Foreshadowing**, as the very fate Zedekiah dreads—being delivered and mocked—is precisely what befalls him in [Jeremiah 39:4-7](/jeremiah/39-4 "Jeremiah 39:4-7 - Zedekiah's Capture and Fate"), where he is captured, blinded, and led in chains to Babylon, a spectacle of utter disgrace. Furthermore, the passage presents a stark **Contrast** between Jeremiah's unwavering commitment to delivering God's difficult truth, regardless of personal cost, and Zedekiah's paralyzing fear of human opinion, which ultimately dictates his tragic choices.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 38:19 profoundly illustrates the theological tension between fearing man and fearing God. Zedekiah's fear of public ridicule and loss of honor at the hands of his own people became a paralyzing force, preventing him from obeying God's clear, life-saving command delivered through Jeremiah. This human-centered fear, often a "snare" as described in Scripture, leads to greater suffering and ultimately to the very outcome one seeks to avoid. True wisdom and security, the Bible teaches, lie in reverent fear of the Lord, which liberates one from the tyranny of human opinion and empowers courageous obedience, even when the path is difficult or unpopular. Zedekiah's tragic end serves as a powerful biblical object lesson on the devastating consequences of prioritizing human approval over divine will.

* [Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Snare of Fearing Man")
* [Matthew 10:28](/matthew/10-28 "Matthew 10:28 - Fear God, Not Man")
* [Isaiah 51:12](/isaiah/51-12 "Isaiah 51:12 - Who are you, that you are afraid of man?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Zedekiah's plight in Jeremiah 38:19 offers a timeless and sobering reflection for believers today. We, too, often find ourselves in situations where God's clear will or the convictions of our faith lead us down paths that are unpopular, uncomfortable, or potentially expose us to criticism, misunderstanding, or even ridicule from others. The fear of what people might think, say, or do—whether it's family, friends, colleagues, or society at large—can become a powerful deterrent to faithful obedience. This verse challenges us to honestly assess the true object of our fear. Are we more concerned with maintaining our reputation, avoiding social awkwardness, or securing human approval than we are with pleasing God and walking in His truth? Zedekiah's story reminds us that prioritizing human opinion over divine command inevitably leads to greater distress and a departure from God's best for our lives. True freedom and lasting peace are found when we courageously choose to fear God alone, trusting that His wisdom and protection are infinitely superior to any perceived loss of human honor.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Jews fallen to the Chaldeans" (i.e., human opinions, societal pressures, or potential criticisms) do I fear most in my life today?**
* **How might my fear of public opinion or potential ridicule be preventing me from obeying God's clear commands or pursuing His will in a specific area of my life?**
* **In what areas of my life am I prioritizing my reputation or comfort over faithful obedience to Christ, and what steps can I take to reorient my priorities?**

### FAQ
**Why was Zedekiah so afraid of the Jewish defectors specifically, rather than the Chaldeans?**

Answer: Zedekiah's fear was deeply rooted in the ancient honor-shame culture of the Near East. While the Chaldeans were a formidable military threat, being handed over and publicly mocked by his own people—especially those who had already 'chosen' the path he resisted—would have been a profound personal and political humiliation. For a king, whose authority and legitimacy were tied to his honor, such an act implied a complete loss of dignity, control, and respect from his subjects, a fate he perceived as worse than direct defeat by an external enemy. It was the ultimate betrayal and public shaming by those he was supposed to rule and protect.

**What was Jeremiah's advice to Zedekiah, and how does this verse relate to it?**

Answer: Jeremiah consistently advised Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem to surrender to the Babylonians, as it was God's decreed judgment and the only path to preserve their lives and the city (e.g., [Jeremiah 27:12-13](/jeremiah/27-12 "Jeremiah 27:12-13 - Surrender to Babylon")). In [Jeremiah 38:17-18](/jeremiah/38-17 "Jeremiah 38:17-18 - Jeremiah's Counsel to Zedekiah"), just before this verse, Jeremiah reiterated this counsel, promising the king's life and the city's safety if he surrendered. Zedekiah's fear in [Jeremiah 38:19](/jeremiah/38-19 "Jeremiah 38:19 - Zedekiah's Fear") directly explains why he could not bring himself to follow this divine instruction. His personal fear of humiliation by the defectors outweighed his willingness to obey God's command, leading to his tragic indecision.

**What happened to Zedekiah as a result of his fear and indecision?**

Answer: Zedekiah's fear and ultimate refusal to obey God's command through Jeremiah led to the tragic fulfillment of the very humiliation he sought to avoid. The city of Jerusalem was captured, burned, and its walls torn down. Zedekiah was captured while attempting to flee, his sons were executed before his eyes, and then he was blinded and taken in chains to Babylon, where he died in prison ([Jeremiah 39:4-7](/jeremiah/39-4 "Jeremiah 39:4-7 - Zedekiah's Capture and Fate")). His fear of being mocked by a few defectors led to a far greater, public, and devastating disgrace at the hands of the Babylonians.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Zedekiah's paralyzing fear of mockery and ultimate humiliation stands in stark contrast to the perfect obedience and willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the true King. While Zedekiah clung to his earthly honor and reputation, leading to his downfall, Christ, though innocent, willingly embraced the deepest shame and public scorn for the salvation of humanity. He was not afraid of being delivered into the hands of His enemies; indeed, He declared, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of sinners" ([Matthew 26:45](/matthew/26-45 "Matthew 26:45 - Jesus Delivered")). Jesus endured unimaginable mockery—by soldiers who dressed Him in a scarlet robe and crowned Him with thorns ([Matthew 27:27-31](/matthew/27-27 "Matthew 27:27-31 - Jesus Mocked by Soldiers")), by religious leaders and the crowd who taunted Him on the cross ([Matthew 27:39-44](/matthew/27-39 "Matthew 27:39-44 - Jesus Mocked on the Cross")), and by the very act of crucifixion itself, which was a public spectacle of degradation. He became "a curse for us" ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Became a Curse for Us")), bearing the ultimate shame and separation from God, so that we might be reconciled and receive true honor and glory. Unlike Zedekiah, who lost everything by fearing man, Jesus, by enduring the ultimate human contempt, secured eternal life and freedom from the fear of man for all who trust in Him ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Author and Finisher of Our Faith")). His perfect obedience and embrace of shame empower us to obey God without fear, knowing that our true identity and worth are found in Him, not in human approval ([Romans 8:31-39](/romans/8-31 "Romans 8:31-39 - God Is For Us")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 12:42

¶ Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [him], lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

Isaiah 57:11

And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid [it] to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

John 19:12

And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

John 19:13

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

Isaiah 51:12

I, [even] I, [am] he that comforteth you: who [art] thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man [that] shall die, and of the son of man [which] shall be made [as] grass;

Isaiah 51:13

And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where [is] the fury of the oppressor?

Jeremiah 38:22

And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house [shall be] brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those [women] shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, [and] they are turned away back.